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What small, easy steps you can take to have a healthy mouth?

1. Brush your teeth at least twice each day with fluoride toothpaste. Aim for first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Once a day, use floss or to remove food your toothbrush missed. Make sure you:

Drink water that contains added fluoride if you can. Fluoride protects against dental decay. You also may want to use a fluoride mouth rinse, along with brushing and flossing, to help prevent tooth decay andteeth cavities

Gently brush all sides of your teeth with a soft-bristled brush. Round and short back-and-forth strokes work best.

Take time to brush along the gum line, and lightly brush your tongue to help remove plaque and food.

Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you the best way to floss your teeth.

Change your toothbrush every three months, or earlier if the toothbrush looks worn or the bristles spread out. A new toothbrush removes more plaque.

If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them before putting them back in the next morning.

Rinsing with Mouthwash twice in a day can protect your mouth 24 hours from germs.

2. Have a healthy lifestyle.

Eat healthy meals. Cut down on tooth decay by brushing after meals. Avoid snacking on sugary or starchy foods between meals.

Don’t smoke. It raises your risk of gum disease, oral and throat cancers, and oral fungal infections. It also affects the color of your teeth and the smell of your breath.

Limit alcohol use to one drink per day for women. Heavy alcohol use raises your risk of oral and throat cancers. Using alcohol and tobacco together raises your risk of oral cancers more than using one alone.

Limit how much soda you drink. Even diet soda contains acids that can erode tooth enamel.

3. Get regular checkups.

Have an oral exam once or twice a year. Your dentist may recommend more or fewer visits depending on your oral health. At most routine visits, the dentist and a dental hygienist will treat you. During regular checkups, dentists look for signs of diseases, infections, problems, injuries, and oral cancer.

See your dentist right away if:

Your gums bleed often

You see any red or white patches on the gums, tongue, or floor of the mouth

You have mouth or jaw pain that won’t go away

You have sores that do not heal within two weeks

You have problems swallowing or chewing

Besides your dentist, there are other types of dental providers. Your dentist may send you to a specialist if you need extra care.

When you read this line, you probably mentally sang it in the tune that the delightfully forgetful fish Dory sings “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep -” (you know how the rest goes; just replace the word ‘brushing’ with ‘swimming’). Unless of course, you haven’t seen the animated movie ‘Finding Nemo’, in which case you’ve probably been hiding under an especially large and sound-proof rock in an especially large and isolated desert since a while.

When you read that line, you probably thought “Ah… This article is about the importance of brushing!” while patting your back and congratulating yourself on your extraordinary powers of derivative thinking.

Well, that’s exactly what this article is NOT about.

That’s not to say that it’s against brushing in any way. Go on, brush. Brush well and brush regularly, twice a day, for at least two minutes. It’s extremely important.

What this article is about: dispelling the notion that one should “just keep brushing” and end oral care right there.

An oral care regimen should consist of three parts: Brushing, Flossing and then Rinsing with a mouthwash.

We’re all well acquainted with the first part. Everyone does it. It’s almost as if it were an unuttered yet universally-adhered-to commandment: “Brushing shall be done by all of thee; ye that are scrupulous, ye that are perfunctory and ye that that are slovenly.”

Flossing, the next part that comes next, hasn’t quite got the popularity that the first has garnered but through no fault of its own – it’s extremely important as well. It’s meant to remove the bits and pieces stuck between your teeth and gums, along with the bacteria and germs that get attracted to said bits and pieces.

Now we get to the Rinsing – the part where you swish 20ml of a mouthwash like Listerine for a good 30 seconds. Sadly, this part fares pretty poorly in the popularity level – worse than Flossing. The Slovenly don’t touch it, a certain percentage of the Perfunctory indulge in it and only the most scrupulous of the Scrupulous perform it diligently. An especially sad case of ignorance, because it’s popularity right now is inversely proportional to its importance.

Well, think about your mouth. No, really just take two minutes to ponder over your mouth and all the elements in it. We have our teeth – brushing & flossing attend to them. We have our tongue – brushing the tongue/using a tongue-cleaner (which is very important to avoid bad breath) attends to that as well. Now, what about the rest? What about the pallet? The inner cheeks? The back of the throat? Under the tongue? Everything in between?

Think all of these bacteria exist only on the teeth and tongue? You know better than to assume that. Even Dory would’ve known better to assume that – or even forget it (it’s something one can’t forget after finding out about it, no matter how bad a case of amnesia one has).

Why use a mouthwash?

The teeth account for just 25% of the entire mouth. Rinsing with Listerine accounts for the destruction of bacteria and germs that are busy making homes, friends and families and forming communities in the remaining 75%.

Why use Listerine?

It’s the best mouthwash there is. I could give you reasons such as it not only prevents bad breath but also fight the germs that cause it (instead of just giving you a temporary gift of fresh breath), and that even cause plaque and gum problems, because of its active ingredients.All of the above would be true – and valid enough.

The real reason I love Listerine and think it’s the best mouthwash? The way that the mouthwash makes me realise I’m actively destroying my mouth and the way it wakes me up. It makes me want to quote Marlin the clown-fish and say “You’re about to eat at my bubbles!” to all the unwanted settlers in my mouth before engulfing them with 20ml of Listerine.

So, to sum up, here’s why there’s more to oral care than just brushing and why we should floss and why we should use a mouthwash: while regular visits to the dentist are needed every six months, it’s nicer not to be in the dentist’s chair undergoing a root canal while some fish in an aquarium look on and take note.

There are only a thousand things that could cause oral problems. Oral problems can occur due to improper oral hygiene, smoking or chewing tobacco, low immunity, diseases like diabetes, stress, poor nutrition, and can even be hereditary.

If your oral problems are at an advanced stage you’ve got no choice but to get proper treatment from your dentist. At this dreaded stage, the pain and inconvenience causes more trouble than you can imagine. You can’t eat or talk, either because your mouth hurts or because you’re under treatment! That’s why it’s a hundred times better to prevent any of it from happening or just stop it in its early stages.

The first thing you’ve got to do is get a routine check-up done by your dentist for oral problems. Get ready for additional trips if it’s bad. From there on you’ll need to form a complete oral care routine and stick to it religiously!

The most obvious step toward getting rid of oral problems is brushing your teeth daily. Here are a few things to do for your oral health.

-Make sure you brush after every meal. Brushing your teeth removes most of the germs on your tooth’s surface but can’t reach the germs between your teeth and other hard-to-reach places.

-Dentists suggest using dentalfloss to clean the plaque between your teeth.

-Additionally, add a mouthwash like Listerine to your oral care regimen to remove bacteria that cause plaque, bad breath and gum problems from those hard-to-reach places.

Studies have shown that flossing and rinsing is more effective in reducing the formation of plaque and gingivitis compared to brushing alone. So yes, it’s worth the extra effort!

A mouthwash like Listerine not only prevents bad breath but also fights oralbacteria, preventing the formation of plaque and gumproblems, resulting in better oralhealth than brushing alone.

But getting rid of oral problems doesn’t stop once you’ve had your oral care routine going for a while. It’s a long term exercise that gives your mouth better health, and you have to continue the routine so long as you want to keep oral problems away!

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. The bacteria in plaque, is a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth.

Plaque can build up and the bacteria infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth.

Stages of Gum Disease:

Gingivitis: this is the first stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum-line. The daily brushing and flossing can’t remove the plaque; it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis.

You may notice the bleeding during brushing and flossing. The early stage of the gum disease damage can be prevented, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.

Following simple basic Oral Hygiene can prevent early stage of gum disease at home.

Brush Your teeth twice a day with soft brush, Floss daily and rinse with Listerine Mouthwash twice a day.

Periodontitis: This is the second stage of Gum disease, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged.

Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gumline, which traps food and plaque. Proper dental treatment andoral care routineat home can usually help to prevent further damage.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Healthy Gums – healthy gums are firm and don’t bleed. They fit snugly around the teeth.

Gingivitis – Gums are mildly inflamed, may appear red or swollen and may bleed during brushing.

Periodontitis – Gums begin to separate and recede from the teeth. This allows plaque to move toward the roots, supporting fibers and bone.

Gum disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among adults. If detected in its early stages, gum diseasecan be reversed so see your dentist if you notice any of the following symptoms:

The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. Good oral health will help keep plaque from building up.

A professional cleaning by your dentist or hygienist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. Your dentist or hygienist will clean or “scale” your teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gum-line.

By scheduling regular checkups, the early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition. You can follow basic oral care routine at home by brushing twice a day ,flossing every day and rinsing with Listerine Mouthwash twice a day.

There are many reasons to cover up bad breath (halitosis), but if you are tired of temporary solutions and want to get rid of bad breath once and for all, take these instructions in your daily oral care routine :

1. Brushing your teeth

Clean your mouth regularly twice a day; also brushing between the tongue and teeth, not just to look good, but for oral health and fresh breath. Need to ensure you are using the right toothbrush and toothpaste!

2. Flossing :

Are you unaware of how exactly a piece of string can actually clean your teeth and gums? It’s quite a common question – and a very valid one, at that; flossing is an essential part of oral care, reaching areas of the mouth that a toothbrush can’t. Thus, finding out the proper technique of flossing is very important!

3. Rinsing with Mouthwash :

It’s the ‘R’ of ‘BFR’ and completes your daily oral care routine: rinsing with a mouthwash! Make sure you rinse properly in order to reach the areas of the mouth that the toothbrush can’t, ensuring that you help remove germs that cause bad breath plaque and gum problems.

The most basic and essential way of avoiding bad breath is by following a strict oral care routine. The way to do that is brush, floss and rinse away with Listerine mouthwash. Oral care is the practice of keeping a high level of oral hygiene in order to prevent dental problems.

We have all come across people with bad breath and secretly judged them for it. An unpleasant smelling mouth definitely doesn’t make the best impression…but have you ever wondered how your breath smells? Here’s a little about bad breath that may help you learn something new about yourself!

Bad breath or Halitosis is basically the unpleasant odor of breath. It is usually caused by the accumulation of bacteria in a person’s mouth as a result of gum disease, food or plaque. Most people with this condition are unaware of its existence and other people around them may be too embarrassed to say anything.

To give you a better understanding of bad breath, here’s a list of the causes of bad breath

One of the reasons for bad breath is the bacteria that normally live in the mouth and interact with food particles, blood, tissues etc. To create unpleasant smelling sulfur compounds. So it’s really important to follow the ‘Brush- Floss- Rinse’ routine to ensure you’re cleaning your mouth properly.

A few mouth conditions can also worsen the growth of bacteria in your mouth, hence causing bad breath. Two such conditions are gum disease and dry mouth; Bloody gums caused by gum disease create more elements for bacteria to decay, and dry mouth results in less production of saliva further leading to bad breath.

Another cause for bad breathis the intake of foul smelling foods like onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. They don’t only make your breath smell unpleasant, but the byproducts also enter your bloodstream, which results in your actual breathing out the stench through your lungs.

People on a high-protein, low-carb diet shouldn’t be surprised if they suffer from bad breath. These diets burn stored fats instead of carbs, building ketones in the body- some of which are released through the breath and ketones are notorious for their bad smell.

People often take bad breath very lightly, but the truth is it could even be a symptom of a more serious illness like diabetes or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. So if you have even the slightest doubt, don’t hesitate from going to a doctor.

Bad Breath Cure :

There are many ways to avoid and cure bad breath. Here are few of the most effective ways of doing it-

Drinking ample amount of water daily will help you prevent or get rid of bad breath. Keeping your mouth moist is the best way to keep your saliva balanced resulting in the prevention of bad breath.

Another way to prevent bad breath is by avoiding strong tasting foods like onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. Try eating fruits like cranberry, which may help eliminate foul smells.

If you’re somebody who’s been on diet, the only way to fight the unpleasant smell from ketones is the consumption of carbs.

If, despite everything, your bad breath continues to stay, you may want to see a doctor in case of any serious diseases.

The most basic and essential way of avoiding bad breath is by following a strict oral care routine. The way to do that is brushed, floss and rinse away with Listerine mouthwash.

All these years’ people have always associated oral care with only brushing their teeth. Today, let’s take a step back and forget these conventions. Take a moment to think of all the things you put in your mouth every day…Not all of it is healthy, is it? You know what’s troubling is not only the fact that we eat so many things that aren’t exactly good for oral hygiene but the fact that there are more than a million germs left behind in your mouth, even after brushing! These are the germs which if not cleaned properly infect your mouth causing bad breath, or other mouth related diseases.

You may feel like you’ve been extremely hygienic when it comes to oral health- but the truth is that brushing your teeth doesn’t let you reach many corners in your mouth, the only way to reach them is by following the Brush- Floss – Rinse routine. It is extremely important that one goes through this routine and keeps their mouth healthy on a daily basis.

Brushing and flossing your teeth correctly is restricted to cleaning food articles or germs only on and between your teeth but have you wondered what happens to the germs in the rest of your mouth? These germs will remain in your mouth and could lead to bad breath, dry mouth and other such diseases. Making it extremely important to get rid of most of them if not all. That’s when rinsing comes in the picture; to help you complete your oral care routine. Here’s why you should use a mouthwash: An oral mouthwash will enable you to wash away the germs which brushing and flossing alone can’t reach. Using an oral mouthwash as a part of your oral health care routine on a daily basis will improve your oral health drastically.

Speaking of oral mouthwash, many people wonder which one is the best mouthwash to use. With so many in the market it’s hard to select one. Although the choice is very clear for me – it’s always been Listerine®. It cleans virtually 100% of the germs in your mouth as compared to only brushing your teeth that covers less than 25% of your whole mouth. I also like the fact that Listerine® has variants to choose from. So depending on your requirement you can choose the oral mouthwash you want.

The one I’ve been using off late is their newest flavour- Listerine® Cavity Fighter Mouthwash. It has a Flouride protective shield which protects your teeth from Cavities and other mouth related problems. What’s more is, it doesn’t leave a funny after taste like many other mouthwash do. On the contrary it leaves your mouth feeling extremely fresh and smelling amazing.

Keeping your mouth healthy may seem very elementary but the reason I’ve written about one of the simplest and most basic habits in our everyday lives is that many people do not realize the importance of it. A healthy mouth is directly proportional to a healthy body. It’s essential that in our busy lifestyle we take out a few minutes to ensure our mouth is clean and healthy.